Next Art Walk set for April 1 in downtown Fort Myers

March 25, 2011

Downtown Fort Myers will host the next Art Walk on Friday, April 1. As usual, local art galleries and art stops will feature new exhibits and shows during April’s Art Walk.

The monthly Art Walk runs from 6 to 10 p.m. on the first Fridays. The April Art Walk will include more than a dozen art galleries and art stops and will feature new art shows, live music and the traditional after party. It will be followed by the expanded Saturday Art Fair on April 2. Growing in participation, the seasonal Saturday Art Fair has outgrown the Patio de Leon and has expanded to nearby Dean Street (between First and Bay). The art fair has expanded its hours to 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and now features 25 local artist vendors. This will be the final Saturday art fair of this season, but it will return in the fall.

Held the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 pm., Art Walk features local and national artwork in the downtown art galleries and several art stops in the Fort Myers River District. The evening culminates with an after party at 10 p.m. The April after party will be held at Spirits of Bacchus on Hendry Street.

Another highlight of the very popular evening is the weekly Friday Night Live free concert series which takes place in the Patio de Leon. Memphis 56 will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.

Always a collector’s item, new Art Walk buttons will be available at galleries that night. Art Walk has its own T-shirt (in red or black). Shirts are available for a $12 donation at the IberiaBank gallery showcase during Art Walk.

A free shuttle service courtesy of Select Transportation Inc., with stops planned near the art venues, and parking at the Harborside Event Center will be available for Art Walk patrons. Shuttle stops include The Oasis Condominiums, Art of the Olympians, and the Patio de Leon entrance at First Street.

A map of Art Walk, transportation, and parking will be distributed by participating galleries. Art Walk is a rain or shine event. Art Walk was started by a group of art galleries and art enthusiasts and debuted in October of 2008. Art Walk is a River District Alliance event. For more information on Art Walk, participating galleries and links to gallery websites, visit www.fortmyersartwalk.com.